Usually, it is during the picture-taking sessions that they decide to act up. Often it is the father's second wife who doesn't want her husband in a picture with his ex-wife. In my experience, the best way to handle this is by sitting them down and explaining to them well in advance that this is YOUR day, and that you love each of them, and want them all in your wedding album.

If this is the situation you find yourself in, something that works well for me is this: Have three pictures taken. One of you with your mother (and her new husband, if she is remarried) for HER, one of you and your father (and his new wife, if he is remarried) for HIM, and one of you with your mother and father for YOU.

Another sticky situation is the first dances. If the divorced parents get along well enough to dance at least part of a dance together, consider yourself lucky. If not, perhaps you can have the father ask his new wife to dance, while your stepfather can dance with your mother. If only one parent is remarried, and the other has not brought a guest to the wedding, how about an honoured family member, such as a favourite uncle?

With a little advance planning, and A LOT of patience, you can manage to defuse the situation!

Submitted By:
Shari Beck
Sandcastles